The way I need this to be a series. I want more information on this world, I am so intrigued and I feel like the story has just begun.

The comparison to Powerless and Godkiller is something I definitely see, especially Godkiller. So if you liked that book, I would definitely check this one out. I love me a good spooky forest, bring back spooky forests in books!

And I felt like this was a super unique take on monsters and being monstrous. I don't want to give anything away, so I will not be explaining myself on that one. No spoilers allowed! The only hint you get is "evil alter ego." So fun!

I really enjoyed this book and will be keeping an eye out for more books by Jen Williams!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This story was written so beautifully that I wanted to take my time reading it. Jen Williams has created an entire world worth knowing, and Elvir was the character I was eager to learn more about. She's a fierce warrior, and she's a person who will do what they can to protect everything she knows and loves with her power of a poisonous touch. I plan to buy a physical copy once it's published for everyone to enjoy. I loved the romance between Elvier and Lucian. I wished the topic was touched more on that aspect.

When I reached the last page on my Kindle, I felt sad that the book was over. Jen, you are an amazing author, and I can't wait to read more from you.

Thank you, Netgalley and Wednesday Books, for allowing me to read this novel.

This book took a little time to pull me in, but once it did, I enjoyed the atmosphere. The descriptions were vivid, and the world felt immersive without being overly complicated. The writing felt somewhat simple at times. Effective in setting the scene, but lacking a bit of depth.

I did appreciate the lore. The magic was interesting, and I liked how everyday things were explained to someone unfamiliar with them. It’s always fun to see the mundane turned into something strange and fascinating from an outsider’s perspective The humor was good, dry in some places and playful in others. But a few times the language felt too modern for the world it built. Words like wonky and unhinged stood out in a way that didn’t quite fit. It felt jarringly out of place. Maybe that works for some readers, but for me, it took away from the otherwise folkloric feel of the story. That said, the God’s names were an unexpected delight. You had the typical names you’d expect like Vilon the Many Limbed or Trilot the Faceless. Then there was John Barleycorn. I’m not sure if that was meant to be as funny as it was, but I genuinely laughed every time he was mentioned.

While I liked the world, I didn’t really connect with the characters. They weren’t especially memorable and followed the familiar blueprint of YA fantasy protagonists. Competent, a little broody, and carrying just enough trauma to fuel the plot but not enough to make them truly complex. The dialogue often felt a bit juvenile, but I do acknowledge the FMC and MMC are pretty young. The romance was also non-existent. But I am assuming book 2 will continue this plot.

Around the 75% mark, my interest started to drift. Maybe it was the pacing, or maybe the novelty wore off, but I found myself less invested as it went on. Still, if you’re looking for a YA fantasy with strong worldbuilding, interesting magic, and a bit of humor, it’s worth picking up. I’d probably read the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This is such a unique book. Gorgeous, stunning writing and a very unique world combine to create something that is at once breathtaking and a bit unnerving. Every page of this read dripped with something strange and interesting, which at times was a soothing balm and at times made chills race down my neck. Something about the way Jen Williams decided to write and untangle this story seemed on the very cusp of horror at times--this is a world I loved to read about but would hate to be part of. The villain(s) gave me such strong visceral reactions that I felt paralyzed even just reading about them.

I would not recommend this one for people itching for a strong romantic subplot, but rather for any readers craving a book that will stick with them for a long, long time because of the writing, the world, the lore, the magic, and the characters. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

P.S. If you played Dragon Age Veilguard and thought that the writers dropped the ball on exploring Lucanis's "two minds one body" reality...this will absolutely scratch that itch.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me access to this amazing eARC.

Elver, a girl whose life got completely turned around and is now the poisoned child of the Queen of Serpents. Made guardian to the forest of Monsters.
Artair, a Monk at a mountain monastery, one of the sleepless.. doomed to share his body with an evil spirit.
Lucian a fractured soul desperate to discover who he truly is and what memories there are to uncover.
Their paths converge and they set out on an adventure filled with excitement, vengeance and curiosity. A discovery of who they are as people and where they fit into the world that they were abruptly thrown into.

I loved this.. 4.75 🌟 IMHO. I have never read anything by Jen Williams but I do have a trilogy by her that I haven't gotten around to reading yet.. but after reading this, I really really want to get to those.
This was a quick, fun read. I loved the characters and how fleshed out they were, how you can tell that they were all completely different.
I appreciated that the fantasy names weren't entirely complicated like some books I've read, they were actually pretty easy to pronounce.
I loved the world building and how completely immersed I was that I actually had trouble falling asleep because I was just constantly thinking about this book.
The world was beautiful and the pacing was great, I was never once bored or annoyed with the characters. I loved them.
My biggest qualm about the book though, was the fact it wasn't long enough lol another thing I noticed which isn't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things was that up until approx. 60% I noticed that Elver doesn't seem to sleep. It's not mentioned. I'm assuming she does, in fact, sleep but the question is when.
It wasn't until a God meddled in her affairs that it was actually mentioned that she fell asleep. They eat but she doesn't sleep? lol regardless, I will definitely buy this when it comes out.. and the books that follow after it.
I'm now completely sad that it is over.
I miss you Elver 😭❤

While I enjoyed this one, I struggled to get into it. I wasn’t connecting to the characters and found the plot was not gripping me the way I had hoped.

The writing was good, the characters and story were very unique and there’s a love triangle like I’ve never experienced before!

The Sleepless is a story of loyalty, tragedy, betrayal and adventure. There is a a lot of fun banter between the characters and you meat some great creatures and characters while they’re on their quest.

If you’re looking for a Romantasy book for a younger reader, this is definitely one I’d recommend.

A YA Romantasy unlike any I’ve read before. Many different creatures roam this world. River, a former human turned jih spirit, finds herself in an interesting love triangle-two males who share the same body. One is Artair, a boy who is smart, kind and hardworking. The other is Lucian, the demon who takes over Artair’s body as he sleeps.

I love the creativity of the creatures in this book and how Elver is not-quite-human anymore but still remembers her human emotions. I also love thinking about The Sleepless. This book has a lot of world building, as do most stories that are the first in a fantasy series. It took a while to get into but then you do.


Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Jen Williams and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions stated are my own.

I thought this story was amazing. I loved the author’s writing style. I really loved all the characters as well! This kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to read more. I highly recommend this one! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Sacrificed for one god, only to be saved by another, Elver becomes a guardian of the jih forest, protecting the creatures that reside in it. All is well, until Artair shows up and steals one of the creatures and Elver is tasked to bring it back to the forest. Only, the quest becomes more than she bargained for, as Artair is not the only mind inside his body. The two find themselves working together against a common enemy with plans much bigger than they could anticipate.

This book has a really cool concept. I was a bit bummed it took me a bit longer than I wanted to really get into it, probably closer to halfway through, which is why I’m giving it a strong 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the lore behind it though and found the magic intriguing.

The triangle is certainly a bit more complex than you usually see, which I also enjoyed. It’s hard to know which one to root for when they’re sharing a body. I like them both, hut won’t reveal which one I like a little more.

Overall it’s an enjoyable read and I still recommend it to those who enjoy fantasy with interesting and tricky gods.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesdays Books for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Sleepless!

Jen Williams delivers a gripping, atmospheric thriller with The Sleepless, blending psychological suspense with a haunting mystery that lingers long after the final page. With razor-sharp prose and a premise that hooks you instantly, this novel is an eerie, unsettling journey into the consequences of sleeplessness—and the terrifying truths hidden in the dark.

The story follows … (insert a brief, non-spoilery summary highlighting the protagonist’s struggles, the eerie atmosphere, and the central mystery). Williams crafts a world where exhaustion blurs reality, paranoia creeps in, and trust becomes a fragile illusion. The tension is relentless, each chapter pulling you deeper into a labyrinth of secrets and deception.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its immersive, almost cinematic quality. Williams masterfully builds suspense, layering psychological unease with chilling revelations. The protagonist’s descent into uncertainty is both unsettling and compelling, making it impossible to put the book down. The writing is sharp and evocative, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and inescapable.

For fans of slow-burning psychological thrillers with a unique twist, The Sleepless is a must-read. Williams delivers an electrifying, thought-provoking thriller that will keep you up at night—fitting, given its premise.

The Sleepless by Jen Williams is a curious story about an outspoken young woman outcast by circumstances and cruelty beyond her control. Elver's story is a sad one that most will easily relate to because everyone occassionally feels the need to hide away from that which hurts us until we grow bitter and brave enough to face it again. Her main companion, one half of our MMC, Artair is about as complex as a sheet of paper. Easy to talk to and a bit boring. The only thing going for him is that he's got something like a soul-parasite that takes over his body when he falls asleep. What do these characters look like? I've hardly an idea. What do the cool monsters look like? I understand the concept of one or two but there are quite a few others which just aren't given justice. There's a part of me that thinks the only reason I like Lucian, that second soul living within Artair, is because it's through him that we are given the most descriptive views of the world and himself. I wouldn't mind if Jen wrote an entire chapter of each character standing in front of a mirror and looking at their reflections so that they could be described in detail. I just couldn't see these characters which was so odd because normally I'm very imaginative and can practically see scenes playing out in my head like a movie.
I complain all the time that a book felt too short and I'm about to do it again. For a world meant to be so very different from ours there's just not enough pages in this book to do it justice alongside the budding romance between our love-triangle and its plot. There were sparks of intrigue which I so yearned to kindle but it just wasn't a fulfilling read though with all the lingering threads of plot I will likely give the finale in this duology a try.

The Sleepless – Jen Williams
A chilling and immersive thriller set in a world where sleep is no longer guaranteed. Williams builds tension masterfully, crafting an unsettling atmosphere that keeps the reader on edge. The story unfolds with eerie precision, blending mystery, science fiction, and psychological horror into an unforgettable narrative. Perfect for fans of speculative thrillers that make you question reality.

Wow! I loved this so very much! I flew through the book, enjoying the world building and characters! What a great concept and can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc.

The Sleepless is a charming fantasy tale with an interesting premise and characters that are sharp and foolish at the same time. Artair is trying to save his friends, and to do that he must trade a forest cub for their lives. Elver, a human sacrifice that was saved by a serpent god and granted powers, protects the forest dwellers. When Artair nabs a cub from Elver's forest, the two find themselves in a conundrum. To complicate matters, Artair is one of the "Sleepless", who shares his body with another soul and when Artair sleeps, Lucian takes over. The three develop a love triangle of sorts. But, the romantasy aspect is quite ya, more crushing on each other and light flirting; I'm guessing that some might be disappointed if they expected a more adult romance, but this level of relating to each other has more plausibility with character ages and experience (one growing up in a secluded monastery another in the forest as the lone human). The world building, with the twelve gods, jih forest, creatures, and mages make this a vibrant adventure and by the end there seemed to be more potential left in this world to be discovered.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press - Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I am in shock and awe over how much I loved this book. Great plot with beautifully written romance! I just can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me an early copy.
My first book from this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I have a few other books on my TBR list from Jen Williams, so looking forward to reading those too.

My favorite part about this book is that this was a unique fantasy where one character, Artair also has another soul inside of him. So this makes a non conventional love triangle with the two souls inside one body with Elver. I also loved that there are quite the number of different gods in this story and they can choose to help their followers or not.
There's also a sort of an animal companion or rather a monster companion for our characters.

I am interested in seeing where the next chapter of this story takes us and what lies in store for our main characters.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Wednesday books!

This book was fantastic and hard to look away from! It asks the question what does it means to be a monster.

There was never a dull moment, as Jen is truly a master story teller who weaves the world building so naturally. It was truly immersive as I felt like I lived in this world and learned the history of the twelve gods and their disciples from birth.
Jen planted such heartache within this story with just enough warmth and light to have me caring, even for those I should not.

The romance within the book is an unconventional love triangle between poison child Elver, ignorant Artair and vengeful Lucian (who controls Artairs body when he sleeps). I am not a fan who seeks out love triangles, but Jen is magic and makes this flow so well. I loved their plight and enjoyed how Jen built understanding, love and hope for all of the characters in their own way.

Overall, this is a very immersive read with a strong FMC whose slow-build relationship with both MMCs is heart-warming, with demanding gods and broken villains. I cannot wait for the next book!

Absolutely loved this concept and enjoyed the read. I do feel like it was missing some depth for me. It could have used more world building and character development as they all felt a little flat. I did enjoy Lucian’s character arc, I just wish there would have been more. A very fast paced read without much filler which is definitely a plus!


Very thankful for St. Martin’s press and Wednesday Books for providing this ARC!

The Sleepless grew on me by the end but I was sure it was going to be a DNF early on with one of the main reasons being this book is being marketed as romance when our FMC and our MMC are minors (I'm not sure about the spirit but I would assume around the same age). Honestly I think this branding does the book a disservice. Either the characters should be aged up and their love really fleshed out or it needs to be marketed more appropriately. As it stands now, the characters are just building a friendship, which I enjoy more personally but I could see it irking some readers.

The second reason I thought this would be a DNF for me was the writing was rough in places. This is an ARC so I can assume and hope that some parts will be fixed but for example, Towards the middle of the book there is a conversation that goes something like-

"Don't look nervous"
He looks at her nervously, "do I look nervous?"

By the end of the book I enjoyed the world and such enough to look past it but there were a couple of points that could use some ironing out.

All in all though, the book grew on me. I thought this was going to be a one off but it's very obvious from the ending that it's going to be at least a duology and I'll be there for it. I hope that the next one will go a bit deeper and really give all of the characters some more depth.

I would recommend this book to people looking for a quick fantasy read but not if they are the type looking for romance.

Lush prose, incredible worldbuilding, and a fresh spin on the 'monsters' trope. The Sleepless had me from page one and I quickly became attached to the characters and the author's writing style!